A British pub tribute singer is being sued by Meatloaf over allegations is a
''fraudulent imposter'' but claims he doesn't even look like the rock star
after losing 11 stone through dieting.

Meatloaf is suing a Dean Torkington for £64,000 damages after claiming he is too much of a ''dead ringer'' for the Bat Out Of Hell star.

The 65-year old heavyweight singer has filed a writ against MR Torkington claiming he is guilty of being a ''fraudulent imposter'' and also ''cyber squatting'' because he uses Meatloaf in his website domain name.

Mr Torkingon, a 50-year old divorcee, from Burnley, Lancs, has been a Meatloaf tribute act since 1996 and performs at pubs and clubs across the UK and claims to have had the www.meatloaf.org domain name for 12 years.

He is a huge fan of the star - famed for his 1981 hit Dead Ringer For Love - and has even met him backstage at one of the singer's gigs in Liverpool.

On his website Torkington who goes under the name ''To Hell and Back'' and whose shows feature a real motorbike and big artwork back drops state: ''You simply won't find a more accurate portrayal of the Rock God Meat Loaf anywhere else.''

But in legal documents filed at US District Court in California celebrity lawyer Evan Spiegel for Meatloaf - real name Michael Aday - said Torkington had been involved in the ''misappropriation and unauthorsed use'' of the star's name and ''blatant cybersquatting and commercial use of the corresponding domain name.''

Mr Speigel's complaint states: ''Torkington registered in bad faith, misappropriated and thereafter without authorisation has and continues to commercially exploit the value of the Plaintiff's name and mark.

''Torkington is commercially exploiting the Plaintiff's name, persona and mark to promote his own services and wilfully cause confusion and false designation of the origin of the goods of the Plaintiff.

''Torkington whose life and business revolves around his association with Meatloaf is a Meatloaf impersonator who has often fraudulently sought to pass himself off as Meatloaf.''

The lawyer also condemned Torkington's use of using the titles of Meatloaf songs as keywords on his website to get better rankings on internet search engines.

He said Torkington used a ''false impersonator profile'' to pass himself off as Meatloaf in a video loaded to YouTube. Lawyers are wanting $100,000 dollars in damages under the US Anticybersquatting Act plus costs.

''The letter was even sent by Fed Ex to my home address. It's not the first time Meatloaf and his management have tried to threaten me. He's just a bully - but I'm not going to just give in without a fight.

''I feel like I'm in school and he's trying to bully me into getting his own way. I'm seeing my barrister because there's a legal term that states if he knew about me and has done nothing before he cannot complain later on."

Torkington added: "I have been a Meatloaf tribute performer since 1996. I used to be an Elton John performer before that but put on quite a bit of weight so decided to become Meatloaf.

"I would emulate him as best I could. I have a full stage set with a motorbike and a big picture of the album cover Bat Out Of Hell 2 at the back."

He also said the fact that he's shed 11 stone in the last two years means he could no longer be considered a "dead ringer".

Torkington says that this is not the first time that Meatloaf has tried to sue him - in 2003 he claimed the singer dragged him back stage at his concert in Liverpool and told him to get rid of his van which has Bat Out Of Hell album artwork on the side.

He says he also offered Meatloaf his domain name for £8,000 - but was offered £1,300.

Torkington said: "We have not got on for a long time. He said that he wanted my website www.Meatloaf.org. He's never made it easy for me.

"Once I paid £400 on VIP tickets to see Meatloaf at Liverpool Docks. He came in his big tour bus and I came in my van with the Bat out of Hell artwork on the side.

"I was on the front row and we were due to meet the band after the show. During one of the songs I got a tap on my shoulder and this guy tells me that Meatloaf wanted to meet me after the show.

"I went back stage and I had him and his manager having a go at me. He said that he wanted to get all the pictures off the side of my van and also he wanted my website address.

"I told him that he was not having my website but shortly after that his youtube channel complained about my YouTube videos of my show and I had to take mine down.

"I have taken this show all over the country and promoted him well in all these years. I have done charity gigs too. But when the person that you are portraying is making your life hell it makes you question whether you still want to be like them.

"I just wanted him to say that he thought that it was good but he never has. My webpage has always said that I am a tribute act. I have never tried to say that I am Meatloaf himself.

"I've gone back to doing Elton John tribute acts more now as a result of all this. It's less hassle than being a Meatloaf tribute act any day."